Public Act 0338 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB3233 Enrolled LRB103 29414 BMS 55805 b

Public Act 103-0338

AN ACT concerning regulation.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Higher Education Student Assistance Act is amended by changing Section 67 as follows:

(110 ILCS 947/67)

Sec. 67. Illinois DREAM Fund Commission.

(a) The Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall establish an Illinois DREAM Fund Commission. The Governor shall appoint, with the advice and consent of the Senate, members to the Illinois DREAM Fund Commission, which shall be comprised of 9 members representing the geographic and ethnic diversity of this State, including students, college and university administrators and faculty, and other individuals committed to advancing the educational opportunities of the children of immigrants.

(b) The Illinois DREAM Fund Commission is charged with all of the following responsibilities:

(1) Administering this Section and raising funds for the Illinois DREAM Fund.

(2) Establishing a not-for-profit entity charged with raising funds for the administration of this Section, any educational or training programs the Commission is tasked with administering, and funding scholarships to students who are the children of immigrants to the United States.

(3) Publicizing the availability of scholarships from the Illinois DREAM Fund.

(4) Selecting the recipients of scholarships funded through the Illinois DREAM Fund.

(5) Researching issues pertaining to the availability of assistance with the costs of higher education for the children of immigrants and other issues regarding access for and the performance of the children of immigrants within higher education.

(6) Overseeing implementation of the other provisions of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly.

(7) Establishing and administering training programs for high school counselors and counselors, admissions officers, and financial aid officers of public institutions of higher education. The training programs shall instruct participants on the educational opportunities available to college-bound students who are the children of immigrants, including, but not limited to, in-state tuition and scholarship programs. The Illinois DREAM Fund Commission may also establish a public awareness campaign regarding educational opportunities available to college bound students who are the children of immigrants.

The Illinois DREAM Fund Commission shall establish, by rule, procedures for accepting and evaluating applications for scholarships from the children of immigrants and issuing scholarships to selected student applicants.

(c) To receive a scholarship under this Section, a student must meet all of the following qualifications:

(1) Have resided with his or her parents or guardian while attending a public or private high school in this State.

(2) Have graduated from a public or private high school or received the equivalent of a high school diploma in this State.

(3) Have attended school in this State for at least 3 years as of the date he or she graduated from high school or received the equivalent of a high school diploma.

(4) Have at least one parent who immigrated to the United States.

(d) The Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall establish an Illinois DREAM Fund to provide scholarships under this Section. The Illinois DREAM Fund shall be funded entirely from private contributions.

(e) The Illinois DREAM Fund Commission shall develop a comprehensive program, including creation of informational materials and a marketing plan, to educate people in the State of Illinois about the purpose and benefits of contributions made to the Illinois DREAM Fund. The Illinois DREAM Fund Commission shall develop specific marketing materials for the voluntary use by persons licensed pursuant to the Transmitters of Money Act.

(Source: P.A. 97-233, eff. 8-1-11.)

Section 10. The Transmitters of Money Act is amended by adding Section 94 as follows:

(205 ILCS 657/94 new)

Sec. 94. Donations; Illinois DREAM Fund.

(a) Licensees may offer every customer who transmits money internationally the option to make a voluntary donation to the Illinois DREAM Fund. Licensees may present customers with the option to make a donation to the Illinois DREAM Fund before the customer completes the transaction. The amount of the donation shall be no less than $1 per transaction. The Department may adopt rules to administer, implement, and interpret the provisions of this Section, including, but not limited to, the amount of the donation options to be presented to customers, the manner and timing of receiving donations and remitting the donations to the Illinois DREAM Fund, and the methods by which the licensee may offer the option to donate to customers. Licensees shall not use, deduct, or retain any amounts from donations to the Illinois DREAM Fund, except any actual cost imposed by third-party payment processors to receive or remit the funds.

(b) The Department shall provide to licensees under this Act electronic copies of all marketing materials created by the Illinois DREAM Fund Commission for licensees pursuant to subsection (e) of Section 67 of the Higher Education Student Assistance Act.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.